I wanted to buy a new MBA at the Apple Store in Bangkok, Thailand...

[beansbaxter]

Yesterday, I visited the new Apple Store in Thailand. It's a very beautiful store, with an outdoor garden deck that overlooks the Chao Phraya River and the Bangkok skyline. My intentions were to buy the all new 2018 MacBook Air, but I instead walked out asking myself what's the point of the Air in Apple's lineup.

I am not hear to bash on the MBA. In the past, I've had several MBA models and they always served me great. My daily driver is a 2015 15" MBP, and I'm in need of a second laptop for occasional travels when I need a laptop that weighs less and takes less volume in my backpack.

When I placed the new MBA on top of the 13" MBP, the width/length dimensions were nearly identical. And side by side, sure the MBA is smaller on one end, but it's also larger on the other end, when compared to the 13" MBP. The 13" MBP appears to use the same amount of volume as the MBA, but obviously has better display and performance. I don't see the reason in getting the MBA, and I really wanted to find a reason to buy one.

I then considered getting the base 13" MBP. I like that it has real function keys with no touch bar, and the 128GB SSD is the same as the MBA, which is more than enough for my needs as a cheap portable laptop to have in my backpack. But it's hard to buy one of these knowing it has the 2nd generation keyboard and the older 7th generation CPU. It makes more sense to go with the newer 13" MBP, which has the 3rd gen keyboard and the 8th gen CPU, but then the price becomes too much. And yes, I strongly considered the MacBook, but it's also using an older 2nd gen keyboard and 7th gen CPU.

I feel frustrated. I wish Apple would update their laptops with the latest technology, as they have it available and ready. Since the new MBP has 3rd gen keyboards and 8th gen CPU's, I don't understand why there's a long delay for these other laptops to get refreshed.

I still need a smaller laptop for the occasional travels, but I walked out of the Apple Store buying nothing and will continue on with my reliable 2015 15" MBP.

And FYI, to receive a VAT refund when you exit Thailand, the Apple Store requires showing your physical passport, whereas most other stores accept a photo of your passport for filling out the necessary paperwork.

And I took a few pictures of the Apple Store:

 

[saulinpa]

I agree with you. Right now I have no reason to get a new Mac notebook. Retina graphics is the only appeal and you already have it in your 2015 MBP.

Nice pictures. I'm jealous as the weather looks good and it would be good to hang out in front of an Apple store.

 

[Rodan52]

I agree with you. Right now I have no reason to get a new Mac notebook. Retina graphics is the only appeal and you already have it in your 2015 MBP.

Nice pictures. I'm jealous as the weather looks good and it would be good to hang out in front of an Apple store.

Yes I'm in agreeance with you too. My most recent device is the 13' 2015 MBP Retina 500Gb which I bought in late 2016 because I didn't want the port changes introduced in the 2016 model and because it was on special. Changing over to USB-C ports exclusively seemed a bit too much of an ask at the time. Since then my wife was forced to replace her 2011 MBP and she bought a 2018 MBP with Touchbar and it is significantly smaller and lightter than my 2015 model. We did need to buy an adapter it's a strip design, fits snugly on the left side, plugs into two USB_C ports and provides HDMI X 1, USB X 2 USB-C X 2 and an SD card reader. So not really such a big deal after all.

 

[mj_]

But it's hard to buy one of these knowing it has the 2nd generation keyboard and the older 7th generation CPU. It makes more sense to go with the newer 13" MBP, which has the 3rd gen keyboard and the 8th gen CPU, but then the price becomes too much. And yes, I strongly considered the MacBook, but it's also using an older 2nd gen keyboard and 7th gen CPU.

Having a 2nd generation Butterfly keyboard is actually a major advantage. The 3rd generation, aka 2018 iteration with silicone membrane, is just as prone to breaking as the 1st and 2nd generation (maybe a bit less so, but it's still only a matter of time). However, the 3rd generation is not covered by Apple's keyboard service program, which only covers devices up to and including their 2017 line-up. If I were you I would avoid the 2018 keyboards at all costs. I'd even be willing to pay more for a 2017 model over a 2018 model. Because when a 2018 model breaks, and it will, you're looking at $800 in repairs.